Clinical Guides: Communicating Research Findings: Conference Posters & Visual Abstracts

Guidance

The Creating conference posters: Practical tips document below provides practical guidance on creating effective conference posters. Use it as a step-by-step guide or dip into a section relevant to your needs.

Creating conference posters - Practical tips

Sections include:

Poster format
Structure
Layout
Text and colour

Images and diagrams
Graphs and charts
Where to print

The Library runs regular webinars on How to prepare a conference poster. Check the Library training calendar via the link below to view dates.

Training - How to prepare a conference poster

Templates - Monash Health posters

Monash Health conference poster templates can be downloaded and edited to suit your requirements. Choose from the PowerPoint or Canva formats below. Several different layouts are available.

PowerPoint - Portrait - A0 size

PowerPoint - Landscape - A0 size

PowerPoint - Landscape - 16:9 size

The 16:9 aspect ratio is commonly used for digital/virtual conference posters.

Canva templates - design software

You will need a Canva account to open and edit these Monash Health templates -- create a free account at canva.com.

Note: These templates are set to A0 size. Resizing a Canva template requires a PRO account. Contact the library if you need assistance resizing.

New to Canva?

Attend a Canva beginner workshop

Research Poster Templates

Cochrane Poster Templates: See "New templates for 2019 - updated January 2022".
- Cochrane branded traditional academic conference templates
- Cochrane branded Better Poster templates: Cyan #betterposter template, Green #betterposter template, Magenta #betterposter template, Orange #betterposter template, Red #betterposter template, Teal #betterposter template
Better Poster Templates by Mike Morrison: Download templates in the left-hand column under the 'Special Versions' folder. Landscape and portrait versions available.
BioRender: Poster builder and large number of icons and graphics relating to health and life sciences available.
Canva: Create a free account on Canva. Log in to your account and create a new document with the dimensions 594mm x 420mm. Search "research poster" under the 'Design' tab on the left-hand column. Select an appropriate template.

Research Poster Resources

View the Four Design Elements for Research Poster (6:25) video below by the Gibson D. Lewis Health Science Library
Better Posters blog is a great resource of information about research posters in general. Read the Better Posters “Critique” series where the author critiques posters sent in by readers and Ten simple rules for conference posters.
How to create an award winning conference poster (London School of Economics Blog)

Visual Abstracts

Example visual abstracts - to get inspiration:

JMIR Publications gallery of visual abstracts
Browse #VisualAbstracts on Twitter [X] (you do not need an X account to browse).

Templates and guidance

Mind the Graph: templates for graphical abstracts and infographics. minimal free access...paid subscription more useful.
Use of a Visual Abstract to Disseminate Scientific Research: See pages 20-25 for step-by-step instructions on how to use the templates.

Image source: Ibrahim, A.M. (2018). Use of a visual abstract to disseminate scientific research. Pg.9.